Ficus plant named ‘Margarita’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Ficus  plant named ‘Margarita’, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by the variegated yellow-green (lime colored) foliage with a dark green amorphous, irregularly shaped and irregularly patterned spot, located along the midrib of the leaf; and by a heavily branching, upright growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Ficusbenjamina.

Variety denomination: ‘Margarita’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ficusbenjamina. The varietal denomination of the new cultivar is ‘Margarita’.The new variety was discovered as a naturally occurring spontaneouswhole plant mutation in a controlled planting of Ficus benjamina‘Midnight’ in a greenhouse in s'Gravenzande, The Netherlands in March,2001.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety is a naturally occurring spontaneous whole plantmutation of the Ficus variety ‘Midnight’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,856),and was selected by the inventor, Jan van Geest. The mutation wasselected as a single plant among plants of ‘Midnight’ which were grownin a controlled environment in a glasshouse in s'Gravenzande, TheNetherlands in March, 2001. The new variety was first asexuallypropagated by vegetative cutting in April 2001, in s'Gravenzande, TheNetherlands. Asexual reproduction through succeeding generations hasestablished that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

In comparison to the parent plant, ‘Midnight’, the leaves of ‘Margarita’are variegated, yellow-green (lime colored) (near RHS 145A, new foliage,upper side) with a dark green amorphous, irregularly shaped andirregularly patterned (RHS 139B) spot located along the midrib of theleaf. The leaves of ‘Midnight’ by comparison are 137B (new foliage,upper side). In addition, ‘Margarita’ varies from the parent plant inleaf and petiole size. The leaves of ‘Margarita’ are narrower, 3.5 cm,as compared to 4 cm leaf width of ‘Midnight’, and shorter, 9 cm, ascompared to 11 cm long leaves of ‘Midnight’. The petioles of ‘Margarita’are shorter, approximately 10 mm in length, as compared to 18 mm longpetioles of ‘Midnight’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Margarita’ which in combination distinguishthis Ficus as a new and distinct cultivar from parent cultivar‘Midnight’ and other Ficus cultivars:

-   -   1. Variegated colored leaves, having a lime colored leaf with a        dark green spot;    -   2. Irregularly shaped leaves;    -   3. Irregular patterned spots of very dark green located along        the midrib of the leaf; and    -   4. Heavily branching, upright growth habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Ficus cultivar, showing colors as true as is reasonablypossible with color reproductions of this type.

The first photographic drawing shows the typical characteristics ofFicus ‘Margarita’ in its entirety.

The second photographic drawing is a close up of the foliage of‘Margarita’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

‘Margarita’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotypic expression may vary with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, day length andcultural conditions, without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following observations and descriptions are of a 6 month old plantgrown in Homestead, Fla. in an unheated, open air shade house fromJanuary, 2003 until July, 2003. The shade cloth on the structure has a73% shade factor. In this description, color references are to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.). Colors in the photographsmay differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newFicus. Colors may vary depending upon the degree of horticulturalpractices such as light level and fertilization techniques.

PLANT

-   Form: Medium compact, upwardly branching, ascending regularly and    richly branching, somewhat weeping.-   Growth: Lateral branches are approximately at a 30 to 45 degree    angle to the trunk, but slightly weeping at top.-   Growth habit: Heavily branching, upright.-   Height attained: Vigorous, about 1 meter.-   Plant spread/width: 60 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Size.—About 3.5 cm wide by about 9 cm long (to leaf tip).        -   Quantity.—Multiple, numerous, exhibits 10-15 leaves on a            lateral branch of approximately 15 centimeters.        -   Color.—New foliage: Upper side: Yellow-green, near RHS 145 A            with a green spot along the midrib, near RHS 139 B;            underside: Yellow-green, near RHS 145 A, with a green spot            along the midrib, near RHS 139 C. Old foliage: Upper side:            Yellow-green, near RHS 144 A, with a green spot along the            midrib, near RHS 139 A; Underside: Yellow-green, near RHS            144 B, with a green spot along the midrib near RHS 137 C.        -   Shape.—Ovate with acuminate leaf tip, slightly coarsely            sinuate and glabrous.        -   Texture.—Smooth, leathery, glossy; underside smooth, matte.        -   Venation.—Single mid-rib vein running from petiole to leaf            tip, convex on the underside, light green, near RHS 145 B,            color is consistent on both upper and lower surfaces of the            leaf.        -   Edge.—Smooth, slightly undulated.        -   Serration.—None.        -   Stipules.—Leaves are glabrous.        -   Auricle.—Absent.        -   Petiole.—Near RHS 144 A; about 10 mm long, diameter less            than 1 mm and texture smooth.        -   Resistance to disease.—No observations made.        -   Rachis.—None.-   Lateral branches: Length, width and internode spacing can vary    depending on environmental factors such as light, temperature and    nutritional levels of the plant. The description below is from a    plant grown in Homestead, Fla. in January of 2005 under shade cloth    with 83% shade factor.    -   -   Length.—12-27 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 4 mm at base of lateral branch to            less than one mm at the tip of branch and typical Ficus            benjamina.        -   Internode length.—15-25 mm.        -   Texture.—Texture of wood is mildly rough and typical of            Ficus benjamina. Strength of branching is typical of Ficus            benjamina with medium strength and flexibility capable of            supporting weight up to 5 kilos that will bend under that            weight nearly reaching the floor.        -   Color.—Grey-brown close to RHS color 199A.-   Lenticels: Numerous and evident along the branches and are    contrasting in color to the wood as they are a yellow-white color    typical of Ficus benjamina, near 158D.    -   -   Shape.—Round and are less than 1 mm in size, typical of            Ficus benjamina.-   Flower/fruit description: Flowers and fruit have not been observed    on the plants of the new Ficus.-   Temperature range: Temperature range relates to an acceptable    temperature that the plant can exist under before experiencing    irreversible foliage damage and/or death. In this instance, the    Ficus benjamina ‘Margarita’ can withstand temperatures as low as 2    degrees Celcius before exhibiting irreversible damage and/or death.    It is a tropical plant and will tolerate temperatures typical of    other Ficus benjamina varieties. No claim is made to the contrary of    Ficus benjamina tolerances.    -   -   Preferred growing conditions.—20° C. to 32° C.-   Reproductive organs: None observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Ficus plant designated ‘Margarita’,substantially as illustrated and described herein.